Directions:
For the cookies:
Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350. Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg. Mix thoroughly. Whisk together the dry ingredients. Turn the mixer to low and slowly add the dry ingredients. Mix until a thick dough forms. Sprinkle a clean, flat surface with flour*. Roll the dough out until 1/8 inch thick, taking care to roll only in one direction. Cut with cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake for 8 minutes. Carefully remove from the pan to cool on wire racks.

For the filling:
In a small pan, mix flour with milk and boil until thick. Cool. Beat until fluffy and add other ingredients (except for the candy cane bits) one at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in the candy cane bits. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Spread the filling on the underside of half of the cookies. Top with the remaining cookies.

*Or roll the dough out between 2 sheets of parchment paper.

Tip: Crush candy canes by placing them in a resealable bag and beat them with a rolling pin against a hard surface.

Yield: about 1 dozen cookies

My thoughts:

I know I am in the minority here but I really don't like Trader Joe's. I've just never had a positive experience there so I stopped going. That said, this time of year, I am almost tempted to go back to try the Peppermint JoJo's everyone is raving about. Almost tempted. Luckily I know how to bake and can make a cookie that is much better than any packaged cookie could hope to be. I made a simple chocolate wafer that wasn't too sweet and a sweet, creamy, no shortening allowed minty filling with crushed candy canes folded in. The perfect holiday treat!

Note: If you live in a very warm climate (indoor temperature over 85) and do not plan to eat the cookies the same day you make them, you may need refrigerate them overnight. Otherwise, store in an air tight container at room temperature.

NolaTrader Joe's doesn't sell a lot of food that I buy. I don't buy snack foods or frozen meals or mixes or sauces etc and several times when I tried to buy dairy products or nuts, they were spoiled or rancid when I opened the package despite being well within the expiration date. They also don't always have advertised items. It just became a frustrating waste of time to go there.

I'm not a Trader Joe's fan either. Some of their frozen foods are convenient but I'm not big on that - and their produce section is REALLY lacking in my opinion. I've come to the conclusion that it's really about their organic cookies, etc...and I like to bake so why bother shopping there?

Oh that's too bad! They have always been best for me for dairy and nuts, that sort of thing - and often at very reasonable prices and small packages so I can try new ingredients. Sounds like it's a bad branch where you live. Bummer!

i dont care for trader joes either. i have been there once. i am gluten-free & was saddened to see that every item they said was gluten-free said it was processed on equipment that may have processed wheat. really???? that's not gluten-free. it was also extremely crowded & the people who were working werent very friendly.

also what you said about not buying a lot of premade stuff. i am always looking for raw ingredients for baking so i was disappointed by their selection.

I also don't care for Trader Joe's. Everyone raves about it, but it seems they only buy the frozen foods, which are good. They have a decent selection of cheeses and appetizer things, compared to other grocery stores near me, but they're outrageously expensive! The produce is terrible, always bruised and overpriced, and every time I go, it's a madhouse there. It's too frustrating.

These cookies look delicious, though, I think I may rethink my cookie baking schedule this weekend and add them in!

I buy some of my staples there, but that's once in a blue moon because the closest to me is 80 miles away. I like some of their baking supplies, and I've got good deals on such items as maple syrup, cheeses and Scharffen Berger bars.

I made these today. I doubled the recipe, and they came out great! I was pleasantly surprised how tender the cookies came out, I was picturing them more crisp. They are being gobbled already. The filling whipped up beautifully.

Just made these and wish I'd doubled the recipe - they'll go quick tomorrow night! As a displaced Marylander, I suggest using a crab mallet to crush the candy canes, works better than a rolling pin in my opinion. Thanks for this delicious recipe!

I've had Trader Joe's peppermint Joe-Joe's and thought to myself, I have to somehow obtain my own supply! (The nearest TJ's from campus is a little far and it's cold here.) I made this recipe and I'd say you've topped them! I like how the cookies aren't too dry and the filling was great! Being a poor college student I didn't have peppermint extract so I dumped in about 8-10 candy canes left over from the holidays, and while the filling became red-tinted, it was great! I have to keep them in the fridge though for the best texture.